Recommended Reading for the Changing Earth

For Adults

Nature of the Stratigraphical Recordby Derek V. Ager
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0471938084
Referred to as a provocative book of commentary on the general pattern of earth history. Twenty years after publication, it still drives us to try and understand the how and why of the sedimentary rock record.

The Orphan Tsunami of 1700by Brian F. Atwater
Age: Adult
Paperback: ISBN 978-1-56025-972-5
Tells of a catastrophic event offshore of Northwest US, a century before Lewis and Clark’s expedition, that caused a tsunami in Japan. Japanese documents and North American sediments are the primary sources of data in this detective story. A rich array of graphic detail and narrative explains the creation, action, and lasting effects of earthquakes and tsunamis.

When the Earth Moves: Rogue Earthquakes, Tremors, and Aftershocksby Patricia Barnes-Svarney
Age: Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0-295-98535-6
Explores the basics of earthquakes, examines quakes that occurred in unusual locations, includes eyewitness accounts of the destructive shocks, and suggests how to prepare for the potential future earthquake.

City of Heroes: The Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886by Richard N. Côté
Age: Adult
Heavily illustrated book with first-hand accounts of the 1886 Charleston earthquake, drawn from newspapers, personal diaries, journals, and letters of the earthquake survivors.

Magnitude 8: Earthquakes and Life Along the San Andreas Faultby Philip Fradkin
Age: Adult
Vivid portrayals of the land people along the fault, good science of earthquakes.

Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of Historyby Stephen J. Gould
Age: Adult
Paperback: ISBN 039330700X
Hardcover: ISBN 0735100314
This book is about the Cambrian explosion of life and the Burgess Shale.

Time's Arrow, Time's Cycle: Myth and Metaphor in the Discovery of Geological Time (Jerusalem-Harvard Lectures) by Stephen J. Gould
Age: Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0674891996
This book is about geologic time and the history of geology.

Alaska Earthquake: Where Were You?compiled by Joy Griffin
Age: Adult/Young Adult
First-person accounts of the 1964 Alaska earthquake tell what it’s like to experience a big one.

Earthquakes and Earth Structureby John H. Hodgson
Age: Adult
Explores historical earthquakes that illustrate different aspects of seismology and theory.

Finding Fault in Californiaby Susan Elizabeth Hough
Age: Adult
Leads the earthquake curious to the state's most accessible, active, and earth-shaping faults and tells the stories behind the major temblors that have shaken the region.

After the Earth Quakes: Elastic Rebound on an Urban Planetby Susan E. Hough, Roger Bilham
Age: Adult
Examination of the collective responses of developed societies to major earthquake disasters.

This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonicsby Jacquelyne Kious, Robert I. Tilling
Age: Adult/Yound Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0160482208 or online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html
An excellent USGS publication with lots of great pictures! Includes information about the discovery and science of plate tectonics.

Field Guide to the San Andreas Faultby David K. Lynch
Age: Adult
Spiral-bound. Also available in CD.
See and touch the world's most famous fault on one of twelve easy day trips between Cape Mendocino and the Mexican Border. Mile-by-mile road logs, GPS coordinates for hundreds of fault features and accurate fault coordinates (± 100 ft). Full color, 210 pages,140 figures and photographs.

Control of Natureby John McPhee
Age: Adults/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0374522596
This book describes three settings-Iceland; Louisiana; and Los Angeles-where people are trying to control nature and winning or losing to various degrees. McPhee tells the essential human side of the drama to answer the questions: Why are we doing this and can we win?

Basin and Rangeby John McPhee
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0374516901, Hardcover: ISBN 0374109141
This book shows how rocks seen in road cuts can tell us about the history of North America. It is an excellent introduction to the theory of plate tectonics. Part of the Annals of the Former World Collection.

In Suspect Terrainby John McPhee
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0374517940, Hardcover: ISBN 0374176507
Interesting book about the complex geology of the Delaware Water Gap area. Examines the ability of current theories to explain the geology. Part of the Annals of the Former World Collection.

Rising from the Plainsby John McPhee
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0374520658
Hardcover: ISBN 0374250820
Well written book which interweaves the geologic history of Wyoming with stories of contemporary Wyoming life. Part of the Annals of the Former World Collection.

Assembling Californiaby John McPhee
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0374523932
Hardcover: ISBN 0374106452
A discussion of the geological history of California, both natural and man-made. Part of the Annals of the Former World Collection.

Powers of Natureby National Geographic, Special Publications Division
Age: Adult
Many personal accounts of earthquakes and other natural disasters.

The Last Day: Wrath, Ruin, and Reason in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755by Nicholas Shrady
Age: Adult
Paperback: ISBN 0670018511
A historical look at the catastrophic 1755 Lisbon Earthquake and its impact on Western society.

San Francisco is Burning: The Untold Story of the 1906 Earthquake and Firesby Dennis Smith
Age: Adult/Young Adult
ISBN 0670034428
A recount of the tragedy through the experiences of various people who were there.

15: Fifteen Seconds: The Great California Earthquake of 1989by Tides Foundation
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Color photos and short well-chosen quotes tell the story of the Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area and Peninsula.

A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906by Simon Winchester
Age: Adult/Young Adult
Hardcopy
A new look at an old earthquake that marked the beginning of earthquake seismology in the US; some of the earthquake science isn’t quite accurate.

Roadside Geologyauthor varies by book
Age: Adult/Young Adult.
Format and ISBN depends on the state.
Written by local experts, this wonderful collection of books contains accessible information on state geology, especially that visible from major highways. Almost every state is represented by an individual book (i.e. The Roadside Geology of Utah). Don't do a road trip without it!

2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquakeby Various
Age: Adult
Hardcover: ISBN 0956883621
Book consists of first hand accounts and experiences from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

An excellent overview of the science of prediction.

For Kids

Fossils Tell of Long Agoby Aliki
Grades K–3
Paperback: ISBN 0064450937
Hardcover: ISBN 0690048297
Tells about the formation of fossils and clues they give us in interpreting past environments.

Earthquake Games: Earthquakes and Volcanoes Explained by 32 Games and Experimentsby Matthys Levy and Mario Salvadori
Grades K–8.
Line drawings and diagrams, some activities could be adapted for science fairs.

Our Violent Earthby National Geographic Society
Grades 6-9
Big colorful photos and charts, with concise text and a folder of classroom activities about earthquakes and other extremes of nature.

Stone Wall Secretsby Kristine Thorson, Robert Thorson, Gustav Moore
Grades 4–7
Hardcover: ISBN 0884481956
A farmer shares the geological history of the stones in a stone wall around the family's property with his grandson.

Volcano and Earthquake (Eyewitness Books number 38)by Susanna Van Rose, James Stevenson
Grades 4–7
Hardcover: ISBN 0679816852
Book discusses where and how earthquakes and volcanoes occur, prediction, and human interaction with these natural phenomena.